Wrench



W. R. LANGFORD.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-I8. 1919.

11,334,250. Patented Mar. 16,1920.

wuemto'c WALTER R. LANG-FORT), OF SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIL WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 16, 1920.

Application filed August 18, 1919. Serial No. 318,228.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER R. LANGFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Santa Maria, in the county of Santa- Bar-- ham and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in renches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates generally to tools, and more particularly to wrenches.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a wrench adapted to engage pipes or other substantially cylindrical members and being constructed so that it will firmly grip the pipe or member without danger of coming loose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pipe wrench, the pipe engaging members being detachably connected together, one of which being provided with a lever which will lock the members when connected together and which will disconnect the members when operated.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a pipe wrench which will be comparatively simple, strong, durable and inexpensive in construction and one which will be well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification and in which similar reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a wrench constructed in accordance with this invention, showing it in clamped relation around a pipe.

Fig. 2 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section showing the handle of the wrench swung so as to move one of the pipe engaging members out of engagement with the pipe, and

Fig. 3 is an edge view of a portion of the wrench.

In the embodiment illustrated, the numeral 1 designates a handle to one of which is pivoted a curved pipe engaging'or clamping member or jaw 2, the fulcrum of the latter being near one end thereof. This end of the member 2 is notched as at 3 to provide for the reception of the end of the handle 1. The other end of the member 2 is bifurcated, and extending between the furcations 4 thereof is a cross bar 5. This cross bar is located adjacent the extreme outerend of the member 2. The numeral 6 designates an opposing curved pipe clamping or engaging member or jaw which has its inner end offset as at 7. The free end of the offset portion 7 is bifurcated to straddle the handle 1 and is pivoted to the latter at a point slightly spaced from the pivot of the member 2.

Pivotally connected at one end to the other end of the member 6 is another pipe engaging or clamping member or link 8, the other end of which is bifurcated, and between the furcations 9 thereof is a spring pressed latch 10. The free end of the latch extends beyond the end of the link 8 and is provided on its inner edge with a hook 11 adapted to engage the cross bar 5 and connect the pipe engaging member or jaw 2 and link 8 together.

The numeral 12 designates a lever which is pivoted to the pipe engaging member or jaw 2 so that one of its ends extends between the furcations 4 of the latter and its other end extends'laterally with respect to the wrench. One of the trunnions which forms the mounting for the lever 12 is enlarged as at 12, and this enlarged portion is provided with two flat surfaces or edges which are arranged angularlv with respect to each other so as to be engaged by a flat spring 13 secured at one end to the member 2 according to which position the lever 12 is in. The end of the lever 12 which extends between the furcations 4 of the member 2 is provided with a notch 12", the latter being shaped to conform to the shape of the free end of the latch 10 to receive the same and lock it in closed position.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings a pipe 1 1 is shown clamped by the various pipe engaging members or jaws of the wrench. From this it will be seen that the link & and jaw 2 are coupled or connected together by the latch 10, the latter being hooked over the cross bar 5 of the jaw 2 and maintained in this position by the lever 12, the shoulder formed by the notch 12" bearing against the outer edge of the latch and the spring 13 bearing against one of the flat faces of the enlargement 12. The handle 1 is then swung so as to tighten the pipe engaging members around the pipe. To release the pipe from the Wrench it is only necessary to swing the handle 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, and then to engage the outwardly extending end of the lever 12 with the finger and swing it to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2. This obvi- 'ously brings the other flat face of the eninwardly to. engage the cross bar 5, the lever 12 will be swung with the latch and by the latch to its locking position. I

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and use of the invention will be readily understood.

Various changes in form, proportion, and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is: I

1. A device of the class described comprising a handle, a pair of opposing curved pipe clamping members pivoted at one end at slightly spaced points to 'one end of said handle, a curved link pivoted at one end to the other end of one of said members, a latch ivoted to the other end of-said link and a apted toengage and detachably connect with the other end of the other member, and a lever pivoted to the other end of said other member and engaging said latch for holding the latter in locked position, said lever being adapted to release said latch when swung outwardly.

2. A device of the class described comprising a handle, a pair of pipe clamping members carried by said handle, the free ends of said members being bifurcated and oneof them having a cross bar disposed between its furcations, a spring pressed latch pivoted between the furcations of the other member and engaging said cross bar to detachably link said members together, and a lever pivoted to the free end of the first member and extending between its furcations, said lever receiving the free end of said latch to hold the same in locked position and being capable of being swung outwardly to release said latch.

3. A device of the class described comprising a handle, a pair of pipe clamping members carried by said handle, the free ends of said members being bifurcated and one of them having a cross bar disposed between its furcations, a spring pressed latch pivoted between the furcations of the other member and engaging said cross bar to detachably link said members together, a lever pivoted to the first member and extending between its furcations, said lever being provided with a notch adapted to receive the free end of said latch so as to maintain the latter in engagement with said cross bar, an enlargement upon the trunnion of said lever and having a pair of flat faces disposed angularly with respect to each other, and a spring secured at one end to the Iirst member and having its other end bearing against one or the other of the flat faces of said enlargement whereby said lever is maintained in a position with said latch in engagement with said cross bar or in a position for receiving thg free end of said latch and be moved by said latch as the latter is swung into locked position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WALTER R. LANGFORD. 

